Things To Know Before You Start Your First On-Campus Job

By Danni White on September 11, 2016

Some students opt for a job on campus just to earn extra money to pay their bills. Others want to gain experience in a certain field or want to be able to obtain good recommendation letters after they graduate.

Some others have been encouraged by teachers, peers, or even their parents to do something on campus besides studying and hanging out with friends.

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Odds are, you fall into one of these categories and you’re not alone. A 2013 survey found that 80 percent of all students work at least part-time. On average, a working student puts in 19 hours a week during the school year. When you add that all up, it could result in a pretty cool penny.

Whichever track you’re on, working at college comes with a good dose of helpful benefits besides the extra money. If you’ve been privileged to land a part-time job on your college campus, here are some things you should know, some helpful tips on how to be prepared on your first day, and why working on campus is beneficial to your life long-term.

First, if you want to or need to work during college and are looking for the right on-campus job to apply for, know that all jobs are not equal. Some things to consider if you’re just starting your job search are:

Scheduling. Be sure you talk with your boss or potential boss on setting hours that will work for you in terms of how many classes you have per day, per week, how many extra hours you need to study, when you practice sports, and so forth. Campus employees often have a good grasp of the hours college students can work and will be willing to help in this area.

Passion. Don’t just get a job for the sake of getting a job or because it’s something your older brother and sister did. Be sure you’re passionate about the job you apply for and be willing to be all there when you’re working it. Passion shows and has a tendency to make a good impression on employers, even the ones on campus.

Professionalism. Apply for as many jobs as you can find within your range of interests and study. Then take extra necessary measures to look and act professionally when you go in for the interview. Of course, they will know you’re a student, but a certain element of professionalism speaks volumes in terms of the kind of student employee you will be.

Some things you need to know:

•The amount of money you make will vary depending on the type of job it is. More than likely, you will be paid at an hourly rate. Some positions begin with minimum wage and if you stick around longer than two or three semesters, that rate could increase. Other jobs involving specialized work such as medical research and tutoring might start out paying a bit more.

•Pay attention to the number of hours you work. More than likely, most on-campus positions will give you a minimum number of hours per week. During peak months, you may be allowed to work more and thus earn more money. Whatever hours you agree to work, make sure your school assignments, extracurricular activities, and social life do not suffer.

•Like any employer in the real world, your on-campus employer will expect you to do a good job, be positive, exude confidence, and be respectful. These are all character traits that you can develop and carry with you into the working world. Colleges, generally, do not do a good job preparing new graduates for the very cruel working world. But an on-campus job can give you some of that hands-on training which will allow you to gain a leg up on some of your peers.

The First Day

So your first day has arrived and you’re a little nervous. There’s always a first to every experience. But with these tips, you should develop a good rhythm to your workflow:

Figure out the culture of the workplace. Every school has a culture. Your specific job at your school is no different. Take the time to observe coworkers and supervisors, to ask questions, and to learn the largely unwritten rules of the environment. Be a sponge. Don’t be afraid to let people around you know you’re new to the job; most will be glad to help you avoid missteps and follow protocol. Try to fit in as best you can.

Develop good communication skills. Not everyone’s a gabber or a selfie-queen but in the working world, you will need to know basic communication skills. While you may be used to sending quick Txt msgs w/ ur phone, language like this most likely won’t work in communication on your job. Formal language and communication is a must. Consider brushing up on your written and verbal skills. Also learning to do a quick proofread of written documents, looking people in the eye when speaking, and greeting with a smile can go a long way.

Get organized. Staying on track with classes, sporting activities or events, sorority or fraternity parties, and work can be a daunting task, but it can be done. Meeting deadlines and keeping your word is an important part of gaining trust and earning respect. Manage your email and social media time, create a to-do list, keep track of your accomplishments, and declutter your workspace at the end of the day.

Develop a professional image. So you don’t have to dress like a Wall Street broker, but taking a little time to ensure you don’t underdress or overdress can help you establish a good reputation at work. When you dress your outer self, be sure to dress the inside as well. Maintain a positive, reliable, and confident attitude, willingness to accomplish objectives, and strive to exceed expectations. Also, be aware of your online image. Colleges strive to show their good qualities and anything negative you have posted could be questionable.

Seek out a mentor. You will be surprised that if you just ask, there are people who are willing to give you advice and help walk you through your college years. It can be a close friend that you respect, a high school coach, or a professor. Being able to bounce ideas off of someone else, take cues from them, and follow their attire and demeanor can be a big help to you and in the future.

The Benefits

And now for the benefits. Of course, work is hard no matter which way you look at it, but it can be a lot of fun. It also carries more rewards than the money you make. Here are a few benefits:

Meeting new people. I’m a little biased to this because one of my favorite things to do is meet new people. But this can be beneficial to you if you’re aiming to make new friends on campus or want to meet like-minded individuals. Depending on where you work, you’re likely to run into all sorts of students, staff and faculty. Keep an open mind and seek out these opportunities to network professionally and gain new knowledge.

Build your resume (and possibly social media). Jobs for college students will help you to develop specific skills you need for when you’re ready to obtain another job after graduation. Seek out those opportunities that will give you the best experience that aligns with your goals and interests in life. Remember, no skill obtained is bad. Keep track of what you learn and where you learn it and use it to help show yourself to employers in the future.

Learn to enjoy your work. The best workers are those who love what they do. By definition, work is difficult, but if you’re personally benefitting from what you’re doing and enjoy what you’re doing, you will seek out a job in the future that you will also love and benefit from.

Do better in your studies. The University of California San Diego reveals that some studies have found “students who work up to 30 hours a week do just as well or even better academically than those who don’t.” Surprisingly, this is because people who have more to do, generally are more organized, more self-motivated, and more self-managed, and thus find a way to do everything on their plate.

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